Ohio town includes e-cigarettes in smoking ban

June 5, 2014

Written by AP

OBERLIN, Ohio (AP) — A northern Ohio college town has joined the growing number of municipalities that are including electronic cigarettes in their public smoking bans.

The city council in Oberlin, west of Cleveland, passed an ordinance this week to include e-cigarettes in the city's ban on smoking in public places. Other cities around the country have already taken similar steps as the popularity of the devices grows.

Many states have urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to regulate e-cigarettes in the same way it regulates tobacco products.

The (Lorain) Morning Journal (http://bit.ly/1mdFrIu) reports that first-time violators in Oberlin will be hit with a fine of up to $150.

The Lorain County town of about 8,300 people is home to Oberlin College.